Stalk-cutter.



S. P. SOSEBEE.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11,1913.

1,128,539. Patented Feb. 16,1915.

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HE NORRIS PETERS CO FHOTO-LITHO 'NASHINQ rcJNv D C.

S. F. SOSEBEE.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11,1913.

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SURVETUS FORD SOSEBEE, 0F BENJAMIN, TEXAS.

STALK-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

Application filed November 11, 1913. Serial No. 800,366.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, SURvnTUs F. Sosrinnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Benjamin, in the county of Knox and State of Texas,have invented new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Cutters, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to stalk cutters, and it has for its object toproduce a simple and inexpensive device of this character which may beutilized for operating on a plurality of rows for the purpose of cuttingand chopping the stalks.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of thecharacter described which may be readily converted to provide animplement for operating on one, two or three rows, simultaneously, asmay be desired,

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theclaims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of a three-row stalk cutterconstructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal verticalsectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview showing one of the individual frames detached. Fig. 5 is a top planview showing the machine converted to operate on two rows of plants.Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 1.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

1 designates a transverse main beam with which a plurality of U-shapedframes including an intermediate frame 2, and outer frames 2 areconnected by fastening means, such as bolts 8 and eye bolts 3', thelatter being preferably employed for connecting the outer frames 2 withthe frame beam. Each of the U-shaped frames is provided with a cross bar5 and with a yoke 6, said yoke being connected with the limbs or sidemembers of the frame adjacent to the rear end thereof. At the junctionof the side members of each frame with the limbs of the yoke 6 stubaxles or spindles 7 are provided on which transporting wheels 8 aremounted for rotation.

The limbs or side members of each frame 2 and 2 are provided in advanceof the supporting wheels 8 with downwardly extending brackets 9 withwhich auxiliary roller carrying frames 10 are pivotally connected. Saidauxiliary frames are substantially U-shaped and are reinforced by meansof braces 11, and said auxiliary frames support the rotary cutters 12which may be of any well known and approved construction.

The forward end of the auxiliary roller carrying frame 10 associatedwith the intermediate frame 2 is connected by means of a link 13 with adraft bar 14 which is supported adjacent to the main frame bar 1, bymeans of hook-shaped straps 15 that slidably engage keepers 16 on thefront face of the main bar. The forward ends of the roller carryingframes associated with the outer frames 2 are likewise flexiblyconnected with the bar 13 by interengaging eyes 13, see Figs. 1 and 6.This construction permits the draft bar to have a vertically slidablemovement independently of. the main frame bar, and the hook-shapedstraps by engaging the top face of the main bar will prevent the draftbar from dropping.

The middle frame 2 is substantially identical in construction with theoutside frames, but the limbs or side members of said middle frame areconsiderably longer than those of the outer frames, thereby causing thecutter carried by said middle frame to be disposed in rear of thecutters carried by the outside frames. The yoke6associated with themiddle frame 2 supports a platform 17 and a seat 18 for the driver oroperator. The yoke 6 of each of the several frames also supports a leverstand including a rack segment 19 and a lever 20 for effecting adjustment of the auxiliary or cutter carrying frame 10, which latter isconnected with one arm of the lever by means of a link 21. Each lever 20is provided with a suitable spring-actuated stop member 22 engaging therack segment 19 for the purpose of securing the lever and related partsat various adjustments. The levers of the several frames are so arrangedas to be in convenient proximity to the driver or Operator who by meansof said levers is enabled to move the rotary cutters into engaging ornon-engaging position with respect to the ground. A tongue 23, which issupported on the main frame bar 1, may also be connected detachably with.the cross bar 5 of the middle frame by means of a lug or bracket 28 anda bolt 29. An evener for the attachment of two, three or four horses maybe connected with the draft bar 1&, but the construction of such evenerbeing well known and understood, it has not been deemed necessary toillustrate the same in the drawings.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will bereadily understood. The individual frames 2 and 2 are of similarconstruction, the only difference being in the dimensions of the middleone, 2, of said frames, the limbs or side members of which are longerthan those of the remaining frames, as has been herein described. Theseveral frames are detachably connected with the main frame bar and withthe draft bar in such a manner that the middle frame may be readilydetached, as seen in Fig. 5, when the machine will straddle one row ofstalks and operate on two rows adjacent to the row thus straddled. Anyone ofthe frames may also be utilized independently of the remainingframes in case it shall be desired to operate on a single row. Theadvantage of operating simultaneously on as manyas three rows will bereadily understood, however, the three-row implement being readily drawnby four horses, while the single row implement requires two draft Copies0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingWashington, D. 0.

animals, and a two-row implement may be drawn by three animals. It isalso evident that the three-row as well as the two-row implementrequires only one operator, there-,

by effecting a very considerable saving in the labor of men and animals.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:-

1. In a device of the character described, a main frame bar, a pluralityof individual U-shaped frames detachably connected therewith, auxiliarycutter carrying frames connected pivotally and adjustably with theU-shaped frames, a draft bar' supported movably with reference to themain frame bar, and means flexibly connecting the draft bar with theauxiliary cutter carrying frames.

2. In a device of the character described, a main frame bar, a pluralityof individual U-shaped frames connected therewith, each of saidindividual frames being provided with supporting wheels, an auxiliarycutter carrying frame connected pivotally and adjustably with each ofthe individual= U-. shaped frames, means for adjusting and supportingthe cutter carrying frames with respect to the individual U-shapedframes, keepers on the front side of the main frame bar, a draft barhaving hooked straps slidable in the keepers and adapted to engage thetop face of the main frame bar to limit the downward movement of thedraft bar, and means flexibly connecting the draft bar with theauxiliary cutter carrying frames.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SURVETUS FORD SOSEBEE.

WVitnesses:

E; L. SOSEBEE, A. B. SOSEBEE.

the Commissioner of Patents,

